Warner Classics{I think, at least} and Alexandre Tharaud have been pushing tasters of his upcoming four hands album. This week it was the single with Vikingur Olafsson, some Grieg. This album is absolutely worth your time. There is also a brilliant single with Bruce Liu with one of the Hungarian dances. Definitely worth following Alexandre Tharaud’s instagram to keep an eye out for this. The man is criminally under-rated internationally.
Another interesting recording which hasn’t actually been made yet but which is in the pipeline is Medtner No 1 with the Belgian National Orchestra, soloist Florian Noack. As I speak, he should be in Lyon ready to play it; I heard it in Brussels Bozar last night. It was mesmerising. Noack I have been aware of for his transcriptions so assumed I should get to see him sooner or later once I relocated to Brussels. Here I am and yes I did. The performance last night was fantastic, and you can listen to it on Musiq3 here for about the next year if you want.
That being said, the record of the year is still looking to be Trifonov and Babayan but who knows how it will turn out.